By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
A new event kicked off a 4-H celebration Wednesday night that is likely to become a tradition.
During the “Celebrate 4-H” event, hosted by the Ohio State University Extension Wood County 4-H program, 20 soon-to-be third graders officially graduated from Cloverbud to official 4-H-age status.
With green graduation caps on their heads, the youngsters were part of the pomp and circumstance of a traditional graduation ceremony. Members of the Portage Center Gleaner Arbor, who sponsored the special ceremony, and 4-H Honors Court representatives, congratulated the graduates with a handshake, “diploma” and a medal.
The Cloverbud program, which started in Wood County in 1987, is the precursor to youngsters being old enough to join a 4-H club. The members are between five and eight years old and often (but not always) have older siblings involved in 4-H. The program offers developmentally age-appropriate activities to promote healthy
Members of the Portage Center Gleaner Arbor, which sponsored the graduation ceremony, greeted the youngest members of 4-H with a handshake, a “diploma” and a medal.
The first-time ceremony is part of the 4-H and youth development program’s focus on Cloverbuds, explained Jennifer Morlock, 4-H program assistant for Wood County. “We also added a Cloverbud Camp Day at Camp Palmer this past May,” she said.
The new 4-H Honor Court and the top two 4-H members for 2024 were introduced during the event.
Madi Lee, president of Country Paws 4-H Club and secretary of the Junior Fair Board, and Madison Wiechman, a 10-year-member of Beaver Creek Boosters 4-H Club, were named the top 4-H members for 2024. They are also members of the 2024 4-H Honor Court.
Lee, a junior at Elmwood High School, has developed into a strong leader for 4-H. She enjoys “working with others and is able to bring them joy,” which is most evident in her role as 4-H camp counselor and Midnight Madness counselor. Last year, she received the Wood County 4-H Spirit of Leadership award and consistently excels in her miscellaneous project work.
Wiechman has been a leader throughout her 10-year career in 4-H. She served as club president, established a mentorship program within Beaver Creek Boosters, and held a rabbit showmanship clinic for 4-H’ers. She represented Wood County many times at the Ohio State Fair and won two Outstanding of the Day and a Clock Trophy for her miscellaneous and nutrition projects. In addition to her project work, she has excelled as a 4-H camp counselor. She will be attending Bowling Green State University this fall, majoring in ecology and conservation biology with a goal to attend veterinary school or pursue a doctoral degree.
Additional members of the 2024 4-H Honor Court are:
- Katelyn Barnhart, a nine-year member of the 4-Leaf Clover Kids 4-H Club, where she is currently serving as president. She has demonstrated great servant leadership in her club by starting a club pen pal project, writing greetings to Honor Flight Veterans, and creating Smile bags for residents of BG Manor. She has been active in the poultry department and was recognized twice as the Darrell Hentges Good Sportsmanship Award recipient. She has earned Premier Livestock Interview recognition, as well as the champion poultry project and skillathon placings. Beyond 4-H, Barnhart helps as a volleyball coach, Sunday school teacher and BG FFA volunteer. She will major in nursing this fall at the University of Toledo.
- Mallory Kramer, a 10-year member and current president of the Blue Ribbon Rangers 4-H Club. She has served as a 4-H Camp counselor, Midnight Madness adult volunteer, and Leadership Board member. She is also currently serving as the vice president of the Junior Fair Board. In 2023, she represented Wood County at Citizen Washington Focus. She is a sophomore year at the Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute where she is studying agriscience education.
- Rylie Kregel, a 10-year member of Simply Stock 4-H Club, who has been selected for the Honor Court in 2022 and 2023. She has served in numerous leadership positions in her club and currently represents Wood County on the state level as a member of the Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Council. She has served as a CarTeens facilitator, a 4-H Camp counselor, a Junior Fair Board member, and is involved in the Leadership Board. She has also competed at the state fair in multiple project areas. Working with kids throughout her 4-H career has led her to study early childhood education at Bowling Green State University this fall.
- Emma Meek, a 10-year Wood County 4-H member, who belongs to the Banners and Beyond 4-H Club. She has taken many livestock projects over the years but is especially proud of her beef projects, which have inspired her to study animal science this fall at The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute. She hopes to become a large animal embryologist after college. In addition to her involvement and leadership at the club level, Meek has also been a member of the Junior Fair Board for two years.
- Emma Ruffner, a 13-year member of the Blue Ribbon Rangers 4-H Club. She has taken on many leadership roles both at the club and county level, including serving as a club officer, 4-H camp counselor, CarTeens instructor, and is currently the Junior Fair Board president. She was selected as a member of the Honor Court in 2022 and 2023 and was also recognized with the Spirit of Leadership award. Ruffner recently attended a media, interview, and storytelling training through the National 4-H Program. She is a sophomore at Bowling Green State University majoring in business, with plans to attend law school.
- Brooke Simon, a nine-year member of 4-H and current president of the Tontogany Hotwires 4-H Club. Throughout her 4-H career, she has taken livestock, clothing, and miscellaneous projects. She has served as a 4-H Camp counselor and superintendent on the Junior Fair Board, helped at the Haskins Chicken BBQ, and planted flowers at the county fairgrounds. She has enjoyed mentoring young sheep exhibitors and teaching them how to show. The senior at Otsego High School, intends to study psychology and continue her track and field career at the collegiate level.
Also at the Celebrate 4-H event, the first-place winners of the miscellaneous, clothing and nutrition judging were recognized for their accomplishments. See a complete list of the 4-H miscellaneous, clothing, nutrition and premier livestock interview winners here. Following the ceremony, the program hosted an ice cream reception.
